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Why Does the University of Kentucky Snub It’s Fans?

I’ve been to three or four SEC Tournaments and 50 plus games thus far.

At each tournament, several local Alumni clubs and Kentucky Websites have organized events for UK fans. I have not seen one event organized by UKAA. UKAA seems to think that it’s above it’s fans. It seems to want to “lord it over” the fans and the various organization that support UK and the Wildcats teams each year.

I find this incomprehensible.

It seems as though the UKAA takes the fan base for granted. The UKAA does not seem particularly interested in returning the support that the fan base lavishes on UK.

Truly, I do not understand this.

Other SEC Teams organized various functions for their fans. UKAA organized NOT ONE function for it’s fans. The pep rally was organized by the local Nashville Alumni association. No one from UK became officially involved.

Without the fans, the UKAA would not have been able to pay that HUGE salary to John Calipari. Without the fan base, UKAA would be hard put to find boosters to support the UKAA. After all, why do boosters support UK?

Because they make dump trucks full of dollars off of the UK fan base.

If the Wildcat Nation or the Blue Haze stopped following UK to every tournament and game, there’d be no dollars to be made.

Why does UK seem to distance itself from it’s own fan base?

I know many organizations and websites who get the UK fan base mobilized and motivated. UKAA attempts to control them and the dollars that these organizations raise without lifting so much as a finger to assist in planning or logistics. If you don’t follow the overly structured rules of the UKAA, they’ll attempt to bully you and/or shut you down completely.

It’s a bit sickening.

I’ve even heard that they sic their attack dogs on fan organization for daring to use the combination of colors of blue and white.

Should not the UKAA be thankful for the fan base and be more supportive. After all, if the fan base dried up, there would be no Kentucky Wildcats program.

Look at the UK football team as an example. UK football is mid-level at best. Why does it remain so? Because the UKAA knows that the UK fan base will purchase those tickets, apparel and related items regardless of the product on the field.

UKAA cares about one thing. The bottom line.

Had the UK fan base stayed awake for the Gillispie era or the end of the Tubby era, those coaches would still be in Lexington. As soon as UKAA started losing profit, Tubby had to go. The same occurred with Billy Gillispie. Had UK fans and boosters continued to spend the dollars, Gillispie could have stuffed one of his athletes into a toilet.

The UKAA should not neglect it’s fan base. They should provide the same support for the fan base that the fan base provides for UKAA.